Prince Caspian: Ben Barnes & why is he so old?

Lucy_QueenofNarnia said:
Yes, Caspian isn't from the outside world. He has to grow old, doesn't he? For the events in Silver Chair to take place.

This whole conversation reminds me of reading a thread about Georgie Henley, when it was announced she was the lucky girl who got to play Lucy, and EVERYBODY was horribly upset by her. And just think, she ended up being a perfect Lucy, and by far the best actor out of the Pevensie children.
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You have a point there, but Georgie was only 8 or 9, which wasn't terribly older than the Lucy Pevensie in the book.. if I recall correctly, that thread (at least, part of it) was upset over her looks...
This current thread is mainly concerned over Ben Barnes' age. Because, if you think about it, how on earth are they going to pull off making him look 12-ish (or even a young teenager)? He's a quarter of a century old, for Pete's sake! Georgie is like, half his age and Lucy and Edmund were supposed to be around Caspian's age in PC. Even Skandar is almost a decade younger than Ben. Even if he was William's age would have been alright, I suppose. But isn't a 25 year old playing a 13 year old stretching it a little thin? There's a ten year difference (at least) in the age Caspian is supposed to be, and he age they are going to make him. Picture a 15 year old trying to play a toddler. Eek!
I think some of us are very concerned about this age thing. That's all. It's not that we're not willing to give him a chance (I think), because we are willing, but his age is a kind of big turn-off.
 
I agree, it doesn't seem right to have a 25 year old play a teenager. Perhaps, though, the director and casting director actually believe Caspian would be a better adapted-to-screen character if he was older. William Moseley is turning 20 in two months. Caspian, as I perceived it in the books, was around Peter's age, maybe a year older, maybe a year younger. So really, now you're looking at a 4 or 5 (or, if you want to push it, 6) year stretch for him to be about the same age as the actor who plays Peter. That isn't so bad, really. With the wonders of costume and AMAZING makeup, plus computer programs, they can make him look years and years younger.

I really wanted someone younger to play him, too. But obviously we're not getting that. From the one picture I've seen of Ben Barnes, at least he looks his age, and I think he can definitely pull off being an old teenager/20-21 year old.

Honestly, I never expected to get the 14 or 15 year-old that would better fit his description in the books. But it could be better that way.
 
It's like what I told...Tess I think, We how good Anna,Will, Skandar and Gorgie can act but now that we have new people we aren't so sure. I know 25 year old man seams odd to play as the Prince we would hoped to be a teen age or less, but some of us don't know how he acts. I know I don't why not just wait and see how it gose before we judge on preformence.
 
I have faith in Adamson to make a good movie of PC, even using a grown man to portray Caspian, who SoA tells us was supposed to be 13 (I had the impression he was younger still -- I wonder about that timeline).

Adamson will make a good movie, I have no doubt. What he won't be able to make, with an actor that age in the title role, is a movie which is true to the books. In the book, it is Caspian's boyishness, his near helplessness, which define him. In the book, he has a tutor telling him fairy-tales about Old Narnia, he's ignorant of why his uncle's having a son would effect him in the least, he's terrified of the talking badger who tends to him after his fall, he is protected by the older Pevensies who think of him as a "kid," he even admits to Aslan he is just a kid ... All these things will have to be rearranged somehow to accommodate a Caspian who is a young man along the lines of Skandar and Will rather than the child he is in the book.

It can still be a good movie, and I don't doubt it will be. But it will have to be significantly different from the book. Imagine, for instance, LWW if Georgie had been 13 or 14 instead of 9 or 10. It could still have been a great movie, but a lot of Lucy's childish innocence/sweetness/reliance on the others and Aslan would have had to be left out.

I think it will be the same with PC. It will still be good, because I don't think Adamson would have cast a poor actor or one who didn't fit his vision, in Caspian's role. I am sure Ben will be good. But I think the story, and Caspian's character, will have to be significantly different than the book. And I am sure in VDT, Ben will be a much better Caspian.

But I do hope there's no romance with Susan! That would be awkward and hideous.

As regards everyone's overreaction when Georgie was cast for LWW; the publicity picture they released of her at first, she was wearing a big winter coat and looked kind of chubby. Cute, but chubby. As soon as we actually saw her, everyone could see she would be a marvelous Lucy. This case is difference, because it's an age issue, and there is only so much they can do to make Ben look young -- I don't think he can pull off 13 by any stretch.
 
its going to be weird seeing Lucy, because hse has grown up so much but im sure with some make up, just as they will do to Ben she and he can look a lot younger than they are like they do on shows like smallville and O.C etc.
 
According to everything I have heard, he is an excellent actor. Also, He is going to be with for a while because he supposedly has a three movie contract which means he will be with us longer than Adamson is cause Adamson is leaving after this movie:(
Also, we have to concider that having been the Crown Prince before everything happened with Pruniprismia's child, he would have had to grow up faster than most kids in our world cause though Miraz did not like the boy, he was the only person who would take his place and would have been groomed for the moment since infancy.
 
I dont care who directs the films..it'll all turn out great. Im not worried about any of the movies being ruined a tad bit.
 
Lucy_QueenofNarnia said:
I agree, it doesn't seem right to have a 25 year old play a teenager.

I really wanted someone younger to play him, too. But obviously we're not getting that. From the one picture I've seen of Ben Barnes, at least he looks his age, and I think he can definitely pull off being an old teenager/20-21 year old.

Honestly, I never expected to get the 14 or 15 year-old that would better fit his description in the books. But it could be better that way.
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Yes. One word: maturity.
The one thing I'm not sure about him, since he's obviously quite an experienced performer, is if he can act just plain young. Naive, if you will.
I think it'll be easier to tell once the trailer for Prince Caspian comes out.


Lady Jean said:
There are rumors that Douglas Gresham will take over for him.
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That would be cool, but I think it would be better if a bonafide director did it. When George Lucas directed some of the later Star Wars films.... um...

TrueNarnianForever said:
I dont care who directs the films..it'll all turn out great. Im not worried about any of the movies being ruined a tad bit.
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I certainly hope you're right. I know I wouldn't be able to stand it if they ruined any of the movies. (They better not mess up on The Last Battle. If they do, they're going to have to deal with um, people.)

Oh, and before I forget- has anyone looked him up on IMDb??

http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0831...pg.html?path=pgallery&path_key=Barnes, Ben (I)

I think I just lost my cool again! What the hay is he doing with a cigarette in his mouth?? :( Otherwise, please tell me it's not him! There is absolutely no way.... I just got to being ok with it...

I'm not okay with it now!!!!!!!!!
 
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